Middle Loire: Anjou, Layon and Saumur Flashcards
What grapes dominate in Anjou and Saumur areas?
Anjou and Saumur are dominated by Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc. They produce a wide range of styles due to multiplicity of soils.
Where Layon lays? and why is singled out?
Its an area planted around the river Layon tributary to the Loire, but it lies inside within Anjou. Singled out because of its sweet wine production.
Around what city Anjou lies?
Around the city of Angers.
What is the Anjou Saumur Climate?
Anjou Saumur has a Maritime Climate with Continental influences. It experiences a share of stormy weather and humidity due to its proximity to sea and also the more significant seasonal swings of continental clime.
TRULY A DUAL CLIMATE.
How are reds and whites in Anjou Saumur due to its dual climate?
Reds are more delicate than in the south, with light tannins and pigmentation; with bright acidity if not planted in ideal sites.
Whites have bright acidity.
Name the soil types of Anjou Saumur
Anjou has: Dark Schist and Tuffeau (white chalk)
saumur has Tuffeau as well which makes it famous for its cremants. it has also sand pockets good for reds.
In what type of soil the sweet appelations of Anjou are planted?
The SWEET appelations of ANJOU are planted on SCHIST. the better ones also have a sandstone component.
What is TUFFEAU? and how is it also known?
Tuffeau is known as Turonian Chalk, formed during the cretaceous 89-93 mya. named after City of Tours.
Chalk is technically Limestone. so its defined in different books as Tuffeau or Tutronian Chalk.
What other Important appelations have Schist soils?
Savennières, Savenières Coulée de Serrant and Savenières La Roche aux Moines have schist soils.
Name the grape varieties grown in Anjou Saumur.
White: Arbois, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon blanc
Red: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, gamay, Grolleau, Grolleau Gris, Pineau d’Aunis, Pinot Noir.
Name the 2 indigenous red grapes of Central Loire
GROLLEAU (Groslot): Principal grape used for ROSE, also incorporated in red ans sparklings.
PINEAU d’AUNIS: It was popular, today is used for blending to boost fruit in reds, roses and sparkling
For what Chardonnay is primarily used in the Middle Loire?
For Sparkling.
Name the wine styles of Anjou Saumur
SPARKLING (Saumur): Pétillants, Mousseux and Crémants
SWEET WINES (Anjou) exclusively from Chenin Blanc
and a pletora of Red, Roses and Whites
Describe the sparkling wine styles
All are made with METHODE TRADITIONELLE.
-Pétillant: 1/2 preassure of Mousseux and Cremant,
1 -2.5 atms, means Fizzy
-Mousseux: minimum 3 atms, 9 months sur lie.
-Crémant: MUST spend 12 month Sur Lie + 1 in bottle.
The ONLY sparkling in the Loire with regulations concerning PRESSING.
From which grapes Sweet Wines are made in the Middle Loire? with which technique?
The Sweet wines are made exclusivelly from Chenin Blanc. Long hanging time (passerillage) and Botitis. with medium to HIGH levels of sugar.
Which grape do we encounter briefly in the village of Ancenis befor switching to Chening Blanc from Nantes’s Muscadet?
Pinot Gris
In which side of the river are located the majority of the vineyards in Anjou and which ones are the exceptions?
In Anjou the majority of the vineyards are located in the left bank of the Loire. The exception is Savennieres and the 2 AOC that lie within (Roche aux Moines and Coulée de Serrant)
What type of wine is aprox half of the Anjou production?
Aprox half of Anjou production consist of ROSE WINE blended from Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grolleau, Pineau d’Aunis, Gamay and Pinot Noir.
Mention Anjou AOC, they are 19 to remember. 3 dry sweet white 1 dry white 3 dry red 1 dry rose 1 off dry rose 1 off dry to sweet rose 7 sweet 2 sparkling
Savennières: dry-sweet white
Savennières Coulée de Serrant: dry-sweet white
Savennières Roche aux Moines: dry-sweet white
Anjou Blanc: dry white
Anjou Rouge: dry red
Anjou Villages/Anjou Villages Brissac: dry red
Anjou Gamay: dry red
Rosé de la Loire: dry rosé
Rosé de Anjou: Off-dry rosé
Cabernet d’Anjou: Off-dry to sweet rosé
Anjou-Coteaux de la Loire: sweet white
Bonnezeaux: sweet white
Coteaux du Layon: sweet white
Coteaux du Layon Villages: sweet white
Coteaux du Layon Chaume 1r cru: sweet white
Coteaux de l’Aubance: sweet white
Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru: sweet white
Anjou Mousseux: Sparkling White and Rosé
Crémant de la Loire: Sparkling White and Rosé